Cartons



June 9, 1959 c. Q. I INVILLE 2,889,978

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ATTORNEYS June 9 1959 c. Q. LlNvlLLE 2,889,978

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ATTOREVS United States Patent O CARTONS 'Creath Q. Linville, Phoenix, Ariz. Application January 27, 1955, Serial No. 484,358 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) This invention relates to improvements in cartons, and it has particular reference to self-locking cartons which may be assembled by hand without requiring the use of staples, tape or the like.

Conventional cartons for use in shipping goods are cut in one piece, and one corner of the carton is joined by staples or by tape. The top and the bottom of the carton are each provided with four aps which must be moved into position and then stapled or taped in order to close the carton.

The assembly and closure of such cartons is frequently troublesome. Usually this requires the use of a stapling machine, and frequently such a machine is not available or an operator for the machine is not available. Also, if the goods to be packaged in the cartons extend above the top of the carton, it is diicult to provide a satisfactory closure because the ilaps can not be positioned to close the carton completely.

These difficulties are particularly troublesome in cartons which are employed for shipping lettuce. Such cartons are taken to the field where the lettuce is packed in them. Usually a large number of cartons are assembled in ad* vance in the eld in order to keep ahead of the crews which pack the lettuce. The bottoms of the cartons are closed rst with staples. Ordinarily, this is done with stapling machines which are mounted on a truck, since there is nothing inside the carton to staple against and a hand stapler would not be satisfactory. Such an operation requires expensive equipment, and it is difficult to carry out during rainy weather.

After each carton is filled with lettuce, the top of the carton must be closed. Usually, a clamp is employed to press the top aps of the carton down into position, and then the aps are stapled together 'with a hand stapler.

If oversize lettuce is packed in the carton, it is difficult to close the aps at the top of the carton 'because the lettuce extends above the top of the carton. In many instances'the carton cannot be closed completely. Such cartons are hard to handle and usually a higher freight rate must be paid for transporting them.

These diiculties are overcome in the present invention by providing a self-locking carton which may be assembled and closed by hand without requiring the use of auxiliary apparatus such as a stapling machine.

In its preferred form, the carton of the present invention comprises two identical mating units which may be joined together like the two halves of a suitcase to form a closed carton. The ends of each unit` are formed of portions of the unit which are doubled over ilaps located y at the respective ends, and the doubled over portions have tabs which fit into slots in the aps to secure the doubled-over portions in place. Each unit has one side which is doubled over .and provided with slots along yits edge. The opposite side of each unit has doubled-over aps which extend from the side and which can be inserted into the corresponding slots in the doubled-over side of the other mating unit. Each doubled-over flap is locked in the space provided therefor by the corresponding slot in the doubled-over side to form a closed carton. The doubled-over flaps may be locked in position by flat keys which are inserted between the doubled-over portions of the flaps. Inthe alternative, the doubled-over ilaps may be provided with locking tabs which serve to lock the flaps in the desired location.

Although I prefer to employ two identical mating units to form a carton, the carton can be in the form of one unit having a top portion `which is a continuation of one side and which has doubled-over flaps for engaging slots in the other side of the carton.

The cartons can be constructed of any desired material such as conventional corrugated berboard, 0r waxed or wetproof berboard. If the latter is employed, the lettuce may be ice packed for shipment, and it does not have to be Vacuum cooled,/as is the custom with conventional cartons.

In order to use the cartons of my invention for packing lettuce, the at pieces from which the cartons are formed may be transported yto the field on the trucks which haul away the lettuce. No extra trucks,'such as for transporting stapling machines, are required. The cartons can be assembled by hand as they are required in the field, and it is not necessary to make up a large number of cartons ahead of time, as is required when conventional cartons are employed. The two halves of the container are assembled and they are joined along one edge so that they may be packed like a suitcase. After the carton is lled, it is closed by forcing the two halves together and locking them in this position by means of the locking flaps.

Oversize lettuce can be handled with greater ease than is the case with conventional cartons because the cartons of my invention close like a suitcase and thereby provide a more complete closure than can be obtained with conventional cartons.

Also, the cartons of my invention may be opened for inspection by buyers merely by unlocking one side of the carton. The contents of the carton may be inspected and then the carton may be closed again by relooking the side which was opened. In contrast, the stapled closure aps of conventional cartons are torn open for inspection and usually they stay that way. It is -not convenient to staple them closed again, and in many instances the cartons are damaged so that they cannot be closed.

Although the cartons of my invention are explained with particular reference to use for packaging lettuce, it will be apparent that they may be employed for various other purposes.

Also, it will be apparent that each half or unit of a carton may be employed as a tray for displaying the goods which were packed in the carton.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. ly is a perspective view of a carton in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end View showing an open carton;

Fig. 5 shows the conguration of the material from which half of the carton of Fig. l is formed;

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the carton wherein the carton is `formed as a single unit;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing an alternative locking arrangement which may be employed instead of the flaps and separate keys which are employed in the other embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation View, partially broken away, showing the alternative locking arrangement in a partially closed carton; and

aseasvs Fig.V 9 shows the carton of Fig. 8 completely closed `and locked.

The carton of Figs. 1 to 5 comprises two identical mating units 10 and l2. it is preferable that the two units be identical so that they may be cut from the same die and so that any two units may be joined together to form a carton.

Each unit has opposed ends which are formed of doubled-over portions T14 which are disposed around flaps 16 which extend inwardly at the respective ends. The doubled-over portions are secured by tabs 1S which engage tabs 2t) and extend through slots located in the iaps 16. The doubledover portions M may be locked in position by using two hands to bend them over and to guide the locking ltabs 18 into proper position. The tab and slot arrangement for securing the ends is easy to manipulate by hand, and it provides a reliable lock.

Each unit also has one side 22, which doubled over land provided with slots 24 along its edge. The opposite side 26 of each unit is provided with doubled-over iiaps 2S which can be inserted into the corresponding slots in the doubled-over side of the other mating unit to attach the two units together.

A plurality of keys 30 are provided for locking the doubled-over flaps 2S in the space provided by the slots 24 and the doubled-over sides 22,. Each key has a depth which is substantially equal to the depth at which the doubled-over flaps 28 are to be secured in the doubledover sides 22. Preferably each key has a protrusion 32 which serves as a handle for manipulating the key into or out of locking position. lt is desirable that each key have beveled end portions and a centrally located V- shaped cutout as shown in the drawings so as to permit use of keys having a length which is considerably greater than the length of the slots Zd in the doubled-over side. This permits the use of long keys which provide greater strength in the locking arrangement.

The depth of the keys controls the depth at which the doubled-over flaps 28 are secured in the doubledover sides 22, and this may be adjusted by adjusting the depth of the keys. If desired, each key may be provided with a mark or perforated score 34 which is located a certain distance from the bottom of the key so that the depth of the key may be changed by breaking the key along the mark 34;-, By way of example, the mark 34 may be located one inch from the bottom of the key, and when all of the keys are broken along this mark they provide a one-inch deeper carton. This provides a one-inch space between the two mating units l0 and 12 which is spanned only by the flaps 2S. However, these aps are doubled over and hence they provide suicient strength for most purposes.

Thus, cartons having two or more sizes may be constructed out of the same basic units in accordance with my invention. Conventional cartons cannot be adjusted in this manner, and it is necessary to provide an entirely different carton for each diierent size.

Preferably, cutouts 36 are provided in the end portions of each unit for use as hand-hold openings in handling cartons which are lled.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, it is desirable that the material for the cartons be creased along the lines along which it is to be bent or doubled over when the cartons are assembled. This can be done when the material is cut during manufacture and it facilitates manual assembly of the cartons and provides a neater carton.

The doubled-over end and side portions provide a carton having great strength. lf desired, lightweight material may be employed in order to take advantage of the strength which is provided by the doubled-over portions ofthe carton.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the carton is a single funit, and a closure member 4t) is provided in the form of an extension of one of the sides 42 of the carton. The opposite side 44 is doubled over and provided with openings la along its upper edge, as in the other embodiment of the invention. Doubled-over flaps 4S which extend fromthe closure member 4i) are employed in conjunction with locking keys to secure the carton in closed condition. The end portions for this embodiment of the invention may be formed in the saine manner as the end portions of one of the units of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Figs. 7 to 9 show an alternative locking arrangement which may be employed in any of the embodiments of the invention.

In the alternative locking arrangement, the doubledover flaps 5l) are split along their outer edges to define a pair of locking tabs 52, d4, and the locking tabs are provided with protrusions 56 which serve as handles for manipulting the tabs into and out of locking position.

The doublethover flaps 5@ are shaped to permit the unit of the carton from which they extend to be moved sidewise so that the locking tabs 52, 54 may be manipulated 'mto or out of locking position with ease.

Fig. 8 shows how the locking tabs S2, 5d are inserted into the slots 24 in the doubled-over side 22 of the carton in order to close the carton. The upper ends of the locking tabs 52, Sd are moved so that the tabs of each pair overlap slightly. Then they are inserted into the slots 24 and manipulated into the positions shown in Fig. 9 with the edges of each pair of tabs abutting one another.

If desired, each locking tab may be provided with a mark or perforated score 58 located a certain distance from the end of the tab so that the effective depth of the tab may be changed by breaking or cutting the key along the mark 5S. This permits adjustment of the depth of the carton in a manner similar to that employed in the keys illustrated in Fig. 3.

The various embodiments of the invention are useful in displaying the goods which were packed in the carton. lf desired, cellophane may be employed inside the cartons so that the goods are displayed through the cellophane when the carton is opened.

lt will be apparent that the cartons of my invention may be made in various sizes and shapes for packaging Various types of products. The construction used in the sides and at the ends of the cartons may be interchanged if desired. In the specification and claims the words side and end may be interchanged, since the construction employed in these -two portions of the containers may `be interchanged.

Also, it will be apparent that other types of end structure may be employed in conjunction with the doubled-over flap and locking arrangements disclosed herein. By way of example, the ends could be stapled and the sides could be joined in accordance with either of the locking flap arrangements of my invention. However I prefer the end constructions disclosed herein because such cartons can be assembled completely by hand without requiring lthe use of any machinery.

I claim:

l. A carton which comprises two mating units each having two opposed ends formed of portions which are doubled over and secured to aps located at the respective ends, each unit also having one side which is doubled over and provided with at least one slot along its edge, with the opposite side having at least one flap extending therefrom and being doubled over on itself to provide a U-shaped member for insertion into the corresponding slot in the douhled-over side of the other mating unit, and locking means extending beyond the ends of each slot and engaging the doubled-over side member for locking each doubled-over hap in the slot.

2. A carton having opposed ends formed of portions which are doubled over flaps located at the respective ends and secured thereto by mating tabs and slots 1ocated in the doubled-over portions and in the iiaps, having one side which is doubled over and provided with at least one slot along its edge, having a closure member, at least one iiap extending from the closure member and being doubled over on itself to provide a U-shaped member for insertion into the doubled-over side with the two legs of the U-shaped member being of substantially equal length, and locking means extending beyond the ends of said slot and engaging the edges of the doubled-over side member at each end of the slot for locking each doubled-over flap in the slot.

3. A carton having opposed ends formed of portions which are doubled over aps located at the respective ends and secured thereto by mating tabs and slots located in the doubled-over portions and in the aps, having one side which is doubled over and provided with at least one slot along its edge, having a closure member, at least one flap extending from the closure member and being doubled over on itself to provide a U-shaped member for insertion into the doubled-over side, and locking means extending beyond the ends of said slot and engaging the doubled-over side member for locking each doubled-over flap in ythe slot, wherein the outer half of each ap is separated into two portions which extend away from the inner half of the flap, and wherein each portion of the flap has a protruding means for manipulating the two portions into and out of locking positions.

4. A carton having opposed ends formed of portions which are doubled over aps located at the respective ends and secured thereto by mating tabs and slots located in the doubled-over portions and in the flaps, having one side which is doubled over and provided with at least one slot along its edge, having a closure member, at least one ap extending from the closure member and being doubled over on itself to provide a U-shaped member for insertion into the doubled-over side, and locking means extending beyond the ends of said slot and engaging the doubled-over side member for locking each doubled-over ap in the slot, wherein the locking means is a key, and each key has a depth which is approximately equal to the depth to which the doubled-over flaps are to be secured in the doubled-over side, has a length which is greater than the length of the slots in the doubled-over side, and has a protruding means for manipulating the key into and out of locking position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 622,496 Knobelock Apr. 4, 1899 783,913 Thompson Feb. 28, 1905 1,167,783 Roikjer Jan. 11, 1916 1,566,505 Pinkerton Dec. 22, 1925 2,128,509 Swope Aug. 30, 1938 2,354,726 Williamson Aug. 1, 1944 2,388,288 Ringler Nov. 6, 1945 2,395,364 Williams Feb. 19, 1946 2,573,766 Grant Nov. 6, 1951 2,619,276 Gibbons NOV. 25, 1952 2,663,485 Johnson Dec. 22., 1953 

